Preserving Archives and Manuscripts for long-term, uninterrupted access.

• Author: Newhof, Elizabeth J.
• Position: Book review

Preserving Archives & Manuscripts, 2nd Edition

Author: Mary Lynn Ritzenthale

Publisher: Society of American Archivists

Publication Date: 2010

Length: 521 pages

Price: $63

ISBN-13 : 978-1-9316-6632-9

Source : www.archvists.org/catalog

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Preserving Archives & Manuscripts, 2nd Edition is a helpful companion for anyone with cherished or valuable records. Author Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler lays forth a comprehensive guide for archivists and administrators that is sure to become a classic text, unseating its prior edition that served a generation as an industry standard.

This book is also the last in the Archival Fundamental Series Il initiated and published by the Society of American Archivists to serve as the collective resource for modern archival practice and theory.

As one would expect, given the title of this work, its primary, purpose is to explain how to preserve archives and manuscripts within archival institutions, while responding to the mandate for access to and use of these records. Ritzenthaler's years of experience in the field are most-evident as she de scribes the variety of archival materials and their complexities, causes of their deterioration and damage, and the proper methods for preserving and handling them.

The introduction to the text is comprehensive in explaining the book's focus. Ritzenthaler identifies the principles required for a successful preservation and archival program, as well as the challenges these programs are likely to face.

While archivists and their administrators are the intended audience of this text, even the family historian can benefit from the tips and techniques Ritzenthaler provides for proper preservation and, when necessary, conservation of damaged or deteriorating records. Archivists employed by government agencies, research and educational institutions, and corporations will certainly profit from Ritzenthaler's detailed instructions for implementing a preservation program as the foundation for successful preservation.

There are two areas where this body of work shows some weakness. First, although interesting, the images, at times, are of poor quality. Their placement throughout the text also lacks aesthetic appeal. They could be used as more of a complement to the text; it appears they are more of a visual accessory than an integral part of the instruction.

Secondly, there is little description of proper electronic preservation and archival. To be fair, Ritzenthaler does...